Buffalo, Sept. 7.—On many material points, and
particularly the utterances of the president after he was shot, the witnesses
of yesterday’s tragedy fail to agree. The action of the tragedy was very fast,
and it was followed by a scene of confusion, in which it was difficult to either
see or hear with accuracy, however close one stood to the president and his
assailant. It is now conceded that the president said “May God forgive him”
after he was shot, and agreed that his first audible speech was a reference
to his wife:
“I trust Mrs. McKinley will not be informed of
this; at least, I hope it will not be exaggerated.”
A newspaper reporter who stood just behind the
president when the shooting occurred, gave the clearest accounts related so
far. He said:
“I stood about ten feet from the president, and
saw Czolgosz approach him. The latter had his right hand drawn up close to his
breast and a white linen handkerchief wrapped about it bore the appearance of
a bandage. He extended his left hand, and I am quite sure the president thought
he was injured, for he leaned forward and looked at him in a sympathetic way.
When directly in front of the president, Czolgosz threw his right hand forward
and fired. I saw the flash and smoke, followed by the report, and then heard
the second shot. Instantly, John Parker, the colored man, and Secret Agent Foster
were upon Czolgosz, and they bore him to the floor. Czolgosz, lying prostrate,
still maintained a hold on his revolver, and seemed to be trying to get his
arm free to fire again. The president did not fall. He raised his right hand
and felt of his breast, and seemed to be maintaining his upright position only
by wonderful effort. I am sure he did not speak at that moment. He gazed fixedly
at his assailant with a look which I cannot describe, but which I shall never
forget, and in a moment reeled back into the arms of Secretary Cortelyou. Czolgosz’s
revolver had by that time been knocked from his hand, and some one had picked
up the burning handkerchief, which lay at his feet. Czolgosz was picked up,
forced back, and again knocked down. Mr. Cortelyou and Mr. Milburn supported
the president, and led him to a chair. I heard him ask that the news be kept
from his wife, and a moment later, when Secretary Cortelyou asked him if he
felt much pain, he said:
“‘This wound hurts very much.’
“He seemed to be fairly easy as he rested in the
chair, and some of the fading color came back to his face. He reached his right
hand inside of his shirt, and when he withdrew it his fingers were tipped with
blood. He paled again at the sight of the blood, and I think he fainted. Senor
Aspiroz, the Mexican minister, broke through the crowd, and, rushing up to the
president, cried:
“‘My God, Mr. President, are you shot?’ The minister
seemed about to throw himself at the feet of the president, but was restrained.
The president’s answer came very slowly and in a halting, subdued voice, he
said:
“‘Yes, I believe I am.’
“The president was attracted by the scuffle of
the officers who were dragging the would-be murderer away, but he did not speak.
His head rested on the arm of Mr. Milburn. His courage was superb, and while
he was conscious he was the master of the pain which he suffered. When the ambulance
came and a stretcher was brought in he started forward and partly regained his
feet unassisted. I heard not a word from the assailant of the president. He
was struck down the moment he fired the second shot, and if he did speak it
probably was in exclamation at the very rough treatment he was receiving.”